Load transferring apparatus

ABSTRACT

A device for temporarily supporting a stack of materials handled by fork lift trucks while a fork member thereof is momentarily lowered beneath the load and supporting sleeves or the like are installed on or removed from the fork prongs, or for transfer from one fork lift truck to another. The device has a pair of stabilizers which operate by gravity, the weight of the load, or power to automatically engage the stack of materials placed on the device to support the same in stacked condition or against overturning.

United States Patent [19] Shell LOAD TRANSFERRING APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Melvin E. Shell, P.O. Box 280,

Dublin, Tex. 76446 [22] Filed: Feb. 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 228,860

[52] US. Cl. 214/38 CC [51] Int. Cl B65q 67/02 [58] Field of Search 214/38 CC, 65, 309, 310

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,647,092 3/1972 Bulat et a]. 214/65 2,588,732 3/1952 Kemp 2l4/l0.5 R X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 822,378 10/1959 Great Britain 214/6 BA Mar. 26, 1974 Primary Examiner-Even C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Douglas D. Watts 5 7 ABSTRACT A device for temporarily supporting a stack of materials handled by fork lift trucks while a fork member thereof is momentarily lowered beneath the load and supporting sleeves or the like are installed on or removed from the fork prongs, or for transfer from one fork lift truck to another. The device has a pair of stabilizers which operate by gravity, the weight of the load, or power to automatically engage the stack of materials placed on the device to support the same in stacked condition or against overturning.

16 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures 1 LOAD TRANSFERRING APPARATUS SUBJECT MATTER AND OBJECTS or THE INVENTION This invention relates to material handling and more particularly to relates to apparatus for handling stacked materials;

It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for handling materials, and particularly for handling stacks of bagged, boxed, or crated materials, or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for use in unloading stacked materials from supporting pads and the like.

Another object is to provide a device of the character set forth having stabilizing means for providing lateral support to stacked materials when such stack of materials is resting thereon. w

A further object is to provide a device of the character set forth wherein the stabilizing means automatically engages a stack'of material when the stack is lowered thereon to provide a desiredstabilizing force for lateral support of the stack of sacks to prevent tipping or overturning of the stack.

Another object is to provide a deviceof the character set forth wherein the stabilizing means disengages the stack of material automatically when the stack of material is lifted therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character set forth having load stabilizing means thereon which is operated by fluid pressure automatically to engage the stackof sacked materials to provide lateral support thereto and which automatically disengages the stack of sacks of materials when the stack is lifted therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for handling materials stacked on supporting sleeves or the like which receive the prongs of a forklift truck to facilitate the installation of such sleeves on the prongs beneath a stack of materials or their removal therefrom.

ltis an important object of this invention to provide a device for supporting a load of stacked sacks of material placed thereon by a fork-lift truck while the fork member of the truckis disengaged from beneath the load and supporting sleeves or the like are placed on or removed from the prongs of the fork and the load lifted from the device.

Another object is to provide such a device having stabilizing members which engage opposite sides of the load of materials automatically when such load is lowered into the device to supportthe load laterally against tipping or overturning and which will disengage the load automatically when the load is lifted from the device.

Another object is to provide such a device having load supporting brackets on its stabilizing members which engage and support opposite edges of the stack of materials. automaticallyagainst further downward movement thereof when such load is lowered onto the device to maintain the load in stacked condition and positioned to be engaged and laterally supported by the stabilizing members eventhough the individual units in the load are substantially shorter than the distance between the stabilizing members when the stabilizing members are in load engaging position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character set forth in which the load stabiliz ing members are actuated by the weight of the load of materials placed on the device.

Another object is to provide a device of the character set forth in which the stabilizing members are actuated by fluid pressure operated means in response to a load of materials being placed on the device.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an end view of a material handling device constructed in accordance with this invention and showing a load of stacked bags of material being placed thereon;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the device supporting the full weight of the load of material and the stabilizing members engaged therwith;

FIG. 3 is an end perspective view of a modified form of material handling device;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in section taken substantially along the line 6 6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a further modified form of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view, similar to FIG. 7, of a still further modified form. of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a further modified form of the invention showing a load of materials being placed thereon;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary end view of a further modified form of the invention showing a load of cubic units of material stacked thereon and fully supported thereby, the outer edges of the load being supported by brackets'on the stabilizing members; and,

FIG. 11 is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing the details of the mounting for the supporting brackets of the device of FIG. 10.

Referring to FIG. 1, the material handling device of the invention is indicated generally by the numeral 10, and comprises a base plate 11 which may be rectangular in shape and has a lower surface 12 adapted to be supported on the ground, a floor, or other similar surface.

A narrow load supporting platform or table 14 comprising a table top member 15-, shown as formed of a length of inverted channel iron, has an upper surface 16 adapted to receive and support a load of material or merchandise such as the stack 17 of bagged material. The table top member is supported on a pair of legs or columns 19 each of which has its upper end attached to the lower side of the channel iron medially of its downtumed flanges, as by wedling, while the lower end of the columns slidingly telescope into the upper open end of the bore of a pair of vertical tubular sleeves 21 attached as by welding to the upper surface 13 of the base plate 12. Each leg 19 rests upon the upper end of a coiled spring 22 disposed in the bore of the sleeve 21 with its lower end supported on the base plate. The

load '17, when placed upon the table top member will thus force the table down toward the base plate, compressing the spring until the entire weight of the load of materials is supported by the device. Normally, such downward movement of the table is arrested when the stabilizing panels engage and clamp the load and can move inwardly towards each other no further. When the load is removed from the table, the spring 22 returns the table to its upper position.

Two pairs of brackets 24 and 25 are secured to the under side of the table top member 15 adjacent the downturned flanges by suitable means such as welding and such brackets have an aperture therein and connecting bars or rods 28 and 29 are hingedly secured by suitable bolts 30 and 31, respectively, to the brackets 24 and 25, respectively so that such connecting bars are moved upwardly and downwardly with the table top channel members.

The pairs of connecting bars 28 and 29 are similarly connected at their lower ends to the inner ends of pairs of pivot bars 32 and 33, respectively, by bolts 34 and 35.

The outer ends of the pairs of pivot bars are pivotally connected to base brackets 36 and 37 by bolts 38 and 39 extending through apertures in the pivot bars and brackets. The brackets are secured in place on the upper side 13 of the base plate 12 by any suitable means such as by welding, or by bolts, rivets, or the like. Welding is generally preferable here since bolts or rivets may project below the lower surface 12 of the base plate and may catch on or damage surfaces such as the floors or ground on which base is supported.

A pair of load stabilizing members or panels 40 and 41 having planar inner load engaging surfaces 40a and 41a, respectively, are attached as by welding to vertical support members 42 and 43 which have their lower ends connected to the pivot bars intermediate their ends by bolts 44 and 45, respectively, extending through apertures in the vertical support members and the pivot bars.

A pair of brace members 48 and 49 each have their upper encs connected to one of the vertical support members 42 and 43 intermediate their ends by bolts 48a and 49a, respectively, and their lower ends connected to the pivot bars 32 and 33 by bolts 50 and 51, respectively, for rigidly supporting the vertical support members 42 and 43 and the stabilizing panels 40 and 41 on the pivot bars 32 and 33, respectively.

It thus will be seen that when the table top 15 moves between its upper and lower positions, the connecting bars connected thereto will move the inner ends of the pivot bars between their upper and lower positions, and that the load stabilizing panels projecting rigidily upwardly from the pivot bars will move between their outer load releasing position and their inner load engaging and supporting position.

In their load releasing position, shown in FIG. 1, the load stabilizing panels diverge upwardly and are at their outer limits of travel, but when they are actuated by a load depressing the table top, they swing toward each other to their innermost position wherein they are disposed in a substantially vertical position, as shown in FIG. 2. When the load stabilizing panels are properly spaced, they will each engage a load of materials resting on the table top at about the same time, or slightly before they reach their innermost position.

As shown, the vertical support members, the brace members, and the stabilizing panels are connected to the pivot bars inwardly of the ends of the pivot bars and the brackets to which they are connected. Also, the pivot bars are shown as connected at their outer ends to the brackets, but it may be desirable to have the pivot bars and the base plate extend substantially beyond such brackets so that the outer ends of the pivot bars will engage the base plate as the pivot bars swing on the bolts connecting them to the brackets to limit the upward swinging movement of the inner ends of such bars and, therefore, limit the upward travel of the table top connected thereto by the connecting bars. In

I this case also, the lower ends of the brace members 48 and 49 may be attached to the pivot bars at points outwardly beyond the brackets and, thus, increase the supporting efficiency of such braces due to their increased angle relative to the vertical support members and stabilizing panels being braced.

The table top member 15 is sufficiently narrow to be received very loosely and readily between the prongs of a fork-lift truck; and the length thereof, as well as the number of columns and pairs of vertical support members, braces, and pivot bars, is chosen in accordance with the bulk and density of the materials to be handled. Generally, the length of the table top member will not exceed the length of the fork-lift prongs, and in such case, two pairs of pivot bars, supports, and braces may be adequate.

When the device is not loaded, the spring 22 maintains the table top member 14 in its upper, elevated position shown in FIG. 1, and in this position, the pivot bars 32 and 33 are likewise elevated and the planar load stabilizing panels 40 and 41 are tilted outwardly or diverge toward the top to present an opening therebetween better adapted to receive a load of stacked material.

Materials, especially stacked bagged materials, such as shelled peanuts, coffee beans or the like, are often moved into storage areas and stacked load upon load and row beside row through use of conventional forklift trucks having the 'usual pair of forwardly extending parallel prongs or tines which are movable vertically to pick up loads and to set them down.

In U. S. Pat. No. 3,494,490, issued to me on Feb. 10, 1970, there are disclosed methods of and apparatus for storing such materials using load supporting sleeves each adapted to accommodate a prong or tine of the fork lift truck. Such sleeves, placed under stack load quantities of bagged material, or the like, facilitate the handling of such material, since the prongs of the fork lift truck may be readily inserted into the sleeves and the loads lifted and moved with ease and without delay. When the load is set in place again the prongs are merely withdrawn from the sleeves, leaving the sleeves in place beneath the individual load quantities to facili# tate subsequent handling in the manner just described. When, however, such materials are to be shipped out, the sleeves are not also shipped, but are removed and retained for further use.

Insertion or removal of the supporting sleeves beneath stacked load quantities of materials such as described above is readily and easily accomplished by lowering each such load onto the table top member of FIGS. 1 and 2 so that the prongs are parallel thereto and straddle the same. When the load becomes fully supported by the device and the prongs are lowered below the load, the sleeves are then inserted on or removed from the prongs which are then raised to lift the load for transporting to and depositing in a storage area such as a warehouse, or a box car, truck, or the like, for

storage or shipment.

when a load 17 of stacked material carried on supporting sleeves 50 and 51 engaged on the prongs 52 and 53, respectively, of a fork-lift truck, is set in place upon the load supporting surface 16 of the table top member 14, the table top is moved downwardly by the weight of such load in opposition to the spring 22 beneath the table column 19 until the weight of the load is transferred from the fork-lift truck and its supporting sleeves to the table top member. This downward movement of the table top member, acting through the connecting bars'28 and 29 attached thereto moves the inner ends of the pivot bars 32 and 33' downwardly, causing them to pivot about the bolts 38 and 39, respectively, at their outer ends. Such pivotal movement of the pivot bars tilts the stabilizing panels 40 and 41 inwardly to their positions shown in FIG. 2, where they are shown with their inwardly facing surfaces 401: and 41a in engagement with the opposite sides load 17 to stabilize and provide the necessary lateral support to the stacked load to prevent tilting or overturning thereoflWith the load thus supported on the table and stabilized by the clamping action of the stabilizing panels, the lift-truck fork prongs 52 and 53 can be further lowered to remove the sleevesSO and 51 below the lower end of the load, and the sleeves 50and 51 removed from the prongs. After the sleeves have been removed, the prongs may then be raised to engage and lift the load without the sleeves.

As the load 17 is again lifted by the fork lift truck, the spring 22 expands, lifting the table 14 and the inner endsof the pivot bars 32 and 33 to tilt the stabilizing panels. outwardly 'out of engagement with the sides of the load and so clear it for easy removal from the material handling device.

It is readily apparent that supporting sleeves may be inserted on the prongs or fork lift trucks beneath loads in the manner described above for their removal; and that a first fork-lift truck could place the load of material on the table of the device while a second one coul lift it therefrom. I

The pivot bars 32 and 33 are provided with a multiplicity of apertures as shown suitable for attaching the vertical supports and brace members thereto at different'locations thereon so that the distance between the stabilizing panels may be adjusted, and that the distance between the lower ends of such vertical support members and the brace members may be varied to vary the downward convergence or tilt of the stabilizing panels, to suit the characteristics of the stacked material to be handled.

Thus, it is apparent that the device of this invention may be used to receive, support, and stabilize a load of stacked materials handled by fork-lift trucks while supporting sleeves are inserted thereunder or removed fromthereunder and that the load stabilizing members thereof are actuated by the depressible table top member automatically in response to a load of materials being placed thereon or removed therefrom.

A modified form of the unloading device is shown in FIG. 3 through 6 and indicated generally by the numeral 100, is provided with modified means for actuating the stabilizing members.

The base plate 111 is rectangular in shape and substantially identical to the base plate 11 of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2, however, and has a lower surface 112 adapted to be supported upon a floor, the ground, or the like. A table or load support 1 14 formed of a length of channel iron 115 has an upper load receiving surface 1 15a and is supported on a plurality of telescoping pedestals 116 each including an upstanding stationary lower tubular pedestal member 117 secured to the upper surface 113 of the base plate by welding or the like and an upper tubular pedestal sleeve member 1 18 secured to the under side of the web of the channel iron 1 15, as by welding, and slidably telescoped over the upwardly projecting lower stationary pedestal member as shown.

A helical coiled compression spring 122 is housed in the bores of the telescoped upper and lower pedestal members 117 and 118 and rests at its lower end upon the base plate while. its upper end'engages the lower surface of the channel iron 115. Thus, when a load is placed upon the table top 115a, it moves downwardly under the weight of such load and compresses the spring 122. When the load is removed from the table top, the spring expands and returns the table top to its normal upper position.

Each of the two upper pedestal members 118 has a stud 125 welded to the exterior thereof near its lower end, and the studs project radially toward each other,

as shown in FIG. 4. Each stud 125 has a smooth cylinv drical inner portion 126 and a reduced outer portion 127 providing an outwardly facing stop shoulder 128, and the reduced portion is externally threaded to receive one or a pair of nuts 129. v

A pair of pivot bars. 132 and 133 are provided for each pedestal used and theirv inner ends are formed with elongated apertures or slots 134 and 135, respectively, which receive the stud 125 and are retained thereon by a washer and the pair of nuts 129. The first nut is tightened to firmly press the washer into engagement with the stop shoulder 128 of the stud and a second nut may be jammed tightly against the inner nut if desired to lock the first nut against unscrewing. Thus, the inner ends of each pair of pivot bars are pivotally slidably connected to the stud on one of the upper pedestal members and, therefore, will be moved up and down therewith as loads of material are placed upon and removed from the table top.

The outer ends of each pair of pivot bars 132 and 133 are connected by bolts 138 and 139, respectively, to brackets 136 and 137 mounted on the base plate 111 in the same manner as in the form first described.

A pair of planar load stabilizing panels 140 and 141 having inwardly facing load engaging surfaces 140a and 141a, respectively, and which may be exactly like the panels 40 and 41, are attached by suitable means, such as welding, to vertical support members 142 and 143 which have their lower ends secured near the center of the pivot bars 132 and 133 by bolts 144 and 145, respectively, disposed in selected aligned apertures in the pivot bars and vertical support members.

A pair of bracing members 148 and 149 have their lower ends similarly secured to the pivot bars 132 and 133 by bolts 150 and 151, respectively, disposed in selected aligned apertures in the bracing members and pivot bars, preferably near the outer ends thereof between the vertical supports and the brackets. These bracing members brace the stabilizing panels when such panels engage and hold a load of materials placed therebetween on the table top 115a.

When the device 110 is not loaded, the planar load stabilizing panels diverge upwardly and thus present an opening therebetween into which a load of stacked materials may be readily lowered with a fork lift truck and placed upon the table top. The weight of a load so rested upon the table top, moves the same downwardly, compressing spring 122 and forcing the inner ends of the pivot bars downwardly also. This movement swings the pivot bars about the bolts in their outer ends and causes the stabilizing panels projecting upwardly from such bars to swing inwardly to engage the sides of the load resting on the table top to lend lateral support thereto and prevent tipping or overturning thereof while the load is on the table top. The support sleeves are inserted on or removed from the fork-lift prongs, after which the prongs are again raised to engage and lift the load as was previously explained.

When the load is lifted and the weight thereof is removed from the table top 1 a, the spring 122 expands and lifts the table top to its upper position, pivoting the pivot bars and automatically opening the stabilizing members to disengage them from the load for easy removal thereof from the material handling device.

If desired, the vertical movement of the table top as well as the resulting inward and outward swinging movement of the load stabilizing panels may be limited by means such as that illustrated in FIG. 6, in which the lower stationary pedestal member 1 17 is provided with a longitudinal blind slot 140 in the upper end of its wall and that the upper slidable pedestal sleeve member 118 has a radially inwardly projecting screw 142 threaded through a nut 143 welded to the exterior of the slidable pedestal member and through a radial aperture 144 formed in the wall of said pedestal member. A reduced cylindrical pin 141 on the inner end of the screw is slidably engaged in the slot 140 in the stationary pedestal member, and engages the opposite ends of the slot to limit longitudinal movement of the slidable sleeve pedestal member relative to the stationary pedestal member, thus limiting both upward and downward movement of the upper pedestal member relative to the lower pedestal member. Downward movement also can be limited, if desired, by permitting the lower end of the upper slidable sleeve pedestal member to engage the base plate. Normally, downward movement of the table top is arrested when the load stabilizing panels come to bear against the load of material resting fully on the table top. Thus, while the load is resting on the table top, the load stabilizing panels constantly squeeze or clamp the stacked load therebetween to prevent the same from tipping or overturning.

The span of the stabilizing panels, or the space between them, may be readily adjusted to suit the materials being handled by providing the pivot bars with a multiplicity of holes so that the vertical support members and the bracing members may be bolted thereto at any suitable location thereon between the pedestals and the brackets.

A further modified form of the material handling device is shown in FIG. 7, wherein the device 200 comprises a table top member 214 depressibly mounted on a base 211 and which may be linked to the inner ends of pivot bars 232 pivotally connected at their outer ends to brackets mounted on the base plate 211. Each pivot bar carries a load stabilizing panel 241 which is movable therewith in the manner previously described. The table top is adapted to receive a load of material which moves it downwardly, causing the pivot bars to pivot and the load stabilizing panels to engage and squeeze or clamp the load therebetween. in this modifled form, however, the weight of the load placed upon the table top moves the same downwardly to engage and actuate a fluid powered mechanism which then operates to move the load stabilizing panels inwardly to load engaging position.

A conventional hydraulic cylinder assembly 250 has one of its ends, such as the cylinder end shown, connected by a bolt 252 to a bracket 251, secured to the base plate 211 as by welding. The piston end of the cylinder assembly is connected by a bolt 254 to a bracket 253 secured to either the bracing member 248 or the vertical support member 243, preferably the latter, as shown. The piston end of the cylinder assembly comprises the usual piston rod 255 having its outer end connected to the bracket 253 and its inner end attached to a piston 256 slidably mounted within the cylinder in the usual manner. If desired, a spring (not shown) may surround the piston rod within the cylinder and be confined between the piston 256 and the gland 257 through which the rod 255 slides to bias the piston toward its innermost or retracted position to return or help return the load stabilizing panels to their normally wide open relationship.

The piston-cylinder assembly 250 is operated by fluid pressure supplied thereto from a source S which may include reservoir and pump means. A conduit 275 has one of its ends connected to the pump means in source S and its other end connected to the fluid inlet port of a three-way valve 276 which is fixed relative to the base plate 211 as by welding thereto. A conduit 277 has one of its ends connected to the fluid outlet port of the valve276 and its other end connected to the fluid port of the cylinder assembly below the piston. An exhaust breather port 278 is provided in the wall of the cylinder above the piston and is left open to permit air to move freely into and out of the cylinder above the piston as the piston is moved back and forth therein.

An exhaust conduit 279 has one of its ends connected to the exhaust port of the three-way valve 276 and its other end connected to the tank or reservoir means (not shown) included in the source S.

A button 280 on the upper end of a rod 281 projecting upwardly from a spring loaded three-way valve member (not shown) slidably disposed within the valve 276 is positioned beneath the table top member 214 so that the button will be depressed when the table top member moves downwardly under load to cause the piston-cylinder assembly 250 to be actuated by fluid pressure supplied from source S.

When a load of material is placed upon the table top 214, the weight thereof forces the table top downwardly, depressing the button 280 and moving the three-way valve member to its lower position, permitting fluid pressure from source S and conduit 275 to flow through the three-way valve, through conduit 277 and into the cylinder below the piston. Thus pressurized, the piston moves to extend the piston rod and forces the stabilizing panels to load engaging position. As long as fluid pressure is applied to the cylinder, the stabilizing panels will maintain their squeeze or support against the load.

top moves upwardly and the spring (not shown) in the I three-way valve returns the valve member to its upper position wherein the supply of pressure fluid from source S is cut off, and the fluid in the cylinder is allowed to drain from beneath the piston through conduit 277, to and through the three-way valve 276, and through conduit 279 to the reservoir (not shown). This draining of the pressure fluid from below the piston allows the spring (not shown) in the cylinder to return the piston to its retracted position, returning the stabilizing panels to their open, load releasing position, shown in FIG. 7. I

It is believed obvious that the device of FIG. 7 could be operated by either pneumatic pressure or hydraulic fluid pressure. It is also believed obvious that the device could be operated by electric power merely by substituting a suitable reversible motor and a suitable switch for the piston-cylinder assembly and the three-way valve, respectively.

A further modified form of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 8 and is indicated generally by the numeral 300. This device comprises .a base plate 311, similar to those already described, and a table top 315 mounted on the upper end of an upper tubular sleeve pedestal member 318 slidable a limited distance vertically on a tubular lower fixed or stationary pedestal member 317 secured to the upper surface 313 of the base plate. A helical coiled spring (not shown) is confined in the bores of the tubular pedestal members 317 and 318 between the base plate 311 and the table top 315 and acts to bias the table top upwardly away from the base plate toward its upper position.

, A limiting screw or pin 342 extends through the wall of the upper sleeve pedestal member 318 into the bore thereof and its inner end engages in a blind longitudinal slot 340 formed in the wall of the stationary lower pedestal member 317. The upper and lower limits of vertical movement of the table top 315 relative to the base plate is, therefore, limited by the engagement of the pin 342 with the upper and lower ends of the blind slot.

A cross bar 332 is attached as by welding to the lower end portion of the upper pedestal member 318 and extends'laterally outwardly on opposite sides thereof. A plurality of holes 333 in the outer ends of the cross bar provide means for connecting aload stabilizer member 343 to each end of said cross bar, though only one end is shown in FIG. 8. The stabilizer member has supporting members in the form of a crank arm having a vertical arm 344 and a horizontal arm 346 rigidly secured to the. lower endof the vertical arm and extending outwardly therefrom at a right angle, and the crank arm is pivotally secured to the outer end of the cross bar by a bolt 345 extending through the elbow of the crank arm formed by the vertical arm 344 and the horizontal arm 346 and through one of the holes 333 in the outer end of the cross bar. The outer end of the horizontal arm 346 has a roller or wheel 350 secured thereto by a bolt 349 and the roller wheel rolls on the upper surface 313 of the base plate and supports the outer end of the arm 346.

The vertical arm 344 has a load stabilizing panel or member 341 attached thereto having an inwardly facing load engaging substantially planar surface 341a, and, if desired, an angular brace (not shown) may connect the outer end of the horizongal arm 345 with the upper portion of the vertical arm 344 for strength.

When a load of material is placed on the table top 315, the table top will be depressed against the force of the spring, moving the cross bar 332 and the stabilizing member downwardly while the roller 350 supports the outer end of the arm 346. Thus, the vertical arm 314 is forced to pivot above the bolt 345 so that the stabilizing panel 341 will be swung inwardly to engage the load of material for supporting the same laterally against tipping or overturning.

When the load is removed from the table top, the spring (not shown) lifts the table top and the cross bar 332 connected thereto, and the crank arm is lifted, causing it to pivot about the bolt 345 so that the load stabilizing panels are swung to their outer load releasing position for easy removal of the load from the device. The roller of wheel 350 may be quite heavy and so act on the crank arm to assist in swinging the stabilizing panel outwardly. The outward movementof the stabilizing panel is limited by the engagement of the inwardly projecting pin 342 on the slidable upper pedestal sleeve member 318 with the upper end of the blind slot 340 formed in the lower stationary pedestal member 317.

A further modified form of the unloading device, shown in FIG. 9 and indicated generally by the numeral 400, is provided with a plurality of load receiving platforms or tables enabling this device to handle much larger loads than the devices previously described.

The base plate 411 is similar to but longer than the base plate 111 of the device of FIGS. 3 through 6. .Three tables or load receiving supports 4140, 414b, and 4140 are secured as by upper tubular pedestals 4160, 416b 416a having their lower ends telescoped over corresponding lower tubular pedestals 417a, 417b and 4170 which are secured as by welding to the upper surface 413 of the base plate 411. I-Ielicalcoiled springs (not shown) are housed in the telescoped pedestals and bias the load receiving platforms or tables towards their upper position, shown in FIG. 9.

The three tables 414a, 414b and 4140 act in unison as they are integrally connected together by a first stretcher member 416d welded between upper pedestals 416a and 41612 and a second stretcher member 4160 welded between pedestals 416b and 4160, as shown. These stretchers are welded low on the pedestals to avoid their interfering with the prongs of the lift trucks.

A pair of pivot bars 432 and 433 have their inner ends pivotally connected to the outermost upper pedestal members 416a and 4160 as by the slots 432a and 433a formed in their outer endsbeing disposed over the studs 416f and 416g welded on the upper pedestals 416a and 4160, respectively, and are made secure by conventional nuts threaded onto the studs. The outer ends of the pivot bars are supported on the base plate 41 1 by bolts 438 and 439 disposed in aligned apertures in the pivot bars and in the brackets 436 and 437 secured as by welding to the base plate.

A pair of load stabilizing panels 440 and 441 having inwardly facing load engaging surfaces 440a and 441a, and which may be identical to the panels 40 and 41 of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 and panels and 141 of the device of FIGS. 3 through 6, are attached by suitable means to the pivot bars, and are braced by braces 448 and 449 in the manner previously described. Preferably, these connections are made by bolts and nuts disposed in selected ones of a plurality of holes formed in the pivot bars to provide means for adjusting the panels and braces to the desired positions.

When the device is not loaded, the stabilizing panels 440 and 441 diverge upwardly and when a load of materials 408 is placed upon the three tables 414a, 414b and 4140, the tables move downwardly under the weight of the load, compress the springs (not shown) inside the telescoped pedestals, depress the inner ends of the pivot bars 432 and 433, and cause the panels 440 and 441 to swing inwardly until stopped by their clamping engagement with the outer edges or sides of the load in the same manner as was shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus the load rests on the tables and is clamped between the panels to keep it from moving laterally or falling off the tables. In this condition, the prongs of the fork of the lift truck may be lowered and the sleeves 51 removed from the six prongs thereof, or the fork may be withdrawn so that the load may be subsequently lifted by another fork lift truck equipped with suitable prong means.

When the load is lifted and the weight thereof is removed from the tables, the springs (not shown) in the telescoped pedestals lift the tables to their upper position and this upward movement of the tables lifts the inner ends of the pivot bars, thus swinging the panels outwardly to disengage and clear the load for removal from the device, as before explained in connection with the devices and 100.

The device 400 just described is understandably very similar to the device 100, but having three tables will handle loads three times as large. Thus, the load 408 is shown to comprise three times as many bags as shown in the load 17 of FIG. 1.

Another modified form of material handling device is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 wherein the device is indicated generally by the numeral 500. The base plate 511 carries a load receiving and supporting member or table 514 movably mounted thereon as in the device of FIGS. 1 and 2, and this base plate is pivotally connected to pivot bars 532 and 533 having upstanding stabilizing panels 540 and 541 mounted thereon for stabilizing a load of materials rested on the table against lateral movement in the same manner that the device 10 functions to stabilize a load of materials placed on its table 14.

The stabilizing panel 540 is provided with a plurality of horizontally spaced vertically extending slots 550 which are adapted to receive a plurality of bolts such as the carriage bolt 551 which is first inserted through the aperture 552 formed in a support bracket such as the angle iron 553. A washer 554 is placed on the thread end of the bolt extending through the panel slot and a nut 556 is threaded onto the bolt and tightened to maintain the bracket 553 at a set height above the base plate. The height of the bracket should normally be about level with the top of the table 514 when the table is depressed and the panels are swung inwardly to load engaging clamping position. The washer 554 is preferably of the type having a rough knarled or toothed face for engaging the surface of the panel to prevent slipping and displacement of the bracket under a load. An identical bracket is similarly installed on the opposite panel 541.

Thus, the device 500 is adapted to handle loads of materials comprising boxes, crates, or other similar cubic units.

When a load 560 of such boxes, crates, or the like, is placed in the device and rested on the table 514, the weight of the load depresses the table and causes the panels to swing inwardly to load engaging and clamping position. In this position of the panels, the brackets mounted thereon are positioned immediately beneath the outer edges of the load to support the same against further downward movement while the panels prevent lateral movement thereof.

It will be noted that the load 560 comprises boxes, crates, or the like, which are each too short in length to reach from panel to panel. They are only long enough to reach from one panel to the center of the table. Yet, because of the support afforded the outer edges of the load by the brackets 553, the load is both stabilized and supported so that such loads are handled readily through use of the device 500. The brackets are removable when desired for handling bagged materials or the like.

Obviously, any of the other material handling devices described herein can be provided with the load supporting brackets of the device 500 of FIGS. 10 and 11, if desired, to adapt the same for handling loads of cubically shaped units such as boxes, crates, or the like.

Obviously, all forms of the material handling device are actuated by the weight of the load placed upon the table top support, some being designed in such a manner that the stabilizing panels are moved mechanically by linkages connected between the table top and the stabilizing panel supports, and others being actuated by hydraulic or pneumatic piston and cylinder means or the like. In all cases, the operating mechanism is so designed that it does not interfere with the introduction and removal of fork lift truck forks or load supporting sleeves. All forms are readily usable for supporting stacked bags or sacks of material which is difficult to handle in such forms. All forms are economical to manufacture and use, and provide for quick interchange of the stacked sacks of material from a pallet sleeve support to an unsupported condition resting on the floor or in a place of storage or for transportation. The devices all facilitate the insertion or removal of the pallet sleeves beneath the stacks of sacked material or the changing of the stack from one fork type conveyor to the other. Each of the forms provides means for positively engaging the sides of the stack of sacked material for stabilizing the same while in the handling device, and in each device the stabilizing panels are actuated when the load is placed upon the table top supporting surface which supports the stack while the sleeve pallets are being inserted or removed.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the constructions illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for handling stacked loads of materials by fork lift trucks having a fork member with parallel spaced supporting prongs, said apparatus comprising: a base; load receiving platform means mounted on said base and having one or more supporting surface means thereon spaced vertically above the base and having a width less than the width of the space between the prongs of the fork lift truck; vertically extending telescoping column means spaced longitudinally of said posed on said surface means; lateral stabilizing means swingably mounted on said base spaced laterally from said platform means; and actuating means for moving I said stabilizing means relative to said load receiving platform means into load engaging position for engaging opposite sides of a load supported on said supporting surface means for stabilizing said load on said platform means against lateral movement, said actuating means being operatively connected with said movable supporting surface means, said lateral stabilizing means and said base and operable to move said stabilizing means to stabilizing position when a load is placed on said platform means said actuating means and said resilient means I coacting for moving said stabilizing means out of stabilizing position when said load is removed from said platform means.

2. Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein said pair of vertically extending columns spaced longitudinally of said platform means are each formed of a fixed lower tubular sleeve and a slidable upper tubular sleeve telescoping over the upper end of fixed lower sleeve and secured to the underside of the vertically movable supporting surface means of the platform means; and said resilient means comprises a spring confined within the tubular sleeves of each of the columns and acting between the base and movable load supporting surface means for moving said load supporting surface means upwardly away from the base and permitting the platform'supporting surface means to move downwardly toward the base when a load is impressed upon said supporting surface means.

3. Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein the actuating means for swinging said lateral stabilizing means toward the supporting surface means of the supporting platform means for engaging and supporting a load on said platform means against lateral movement thereon comprisesrfluid pressure operated means operatively connected with said base and each of said lateral stabilizing means operable to swing said lateral stabilizing means on said base. I

4. Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 3 wherein the fluid pressure operated means is controlled by valve means actuated by downward movement of the supporting surface means of the platform means when a load is impressed upon the platform means.

5. Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein the lateral stabilizing means comprise panel membersadjustably secured at their lower edges to the base member and adjustable for varying the distance between the stabilizing panel members when the same are moved to stabilizing position.

6. The device of claim 5 including: load supporting bracket means carried by said planar panel members and extending inwardly of the planar surfaces of said panels toward theopposite panel at a height substantially equal to the height of said load supporting surface of said load receiving platform means when said panels are in position to stabilize said load against lateral movement; said load supporting brackets having means for supporting the outer edges of said load against further downward movement.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein each of said load supporting bracket means is' adjustably secured to its respective panel members for adjusting its height above said base.

8. The device of claim 7 including: slot means on one and bolt means on the other of said stabilizing means and said load supporting bracket means, said bolt means being receivable in said slot means whereby the height of said load supporting bracket means on said stabilizing means is adjustable.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said lateral stabilizing means comprises a pair of planar panel members, one on each side of said platform means; and load supporting bracket means is carried by said planar panel members and extending inwardly of the planar surfaces of each of said panel members toward the opposite panel at a height substantially equal to the height of the supporting surface of said load receiving platform means when said panels-are in position to stabilize said load against lateral movement; said load supporting brackets having means for supporting the outer edges of said load against further downward movement.

10. Apparatus for handling stacked loads of materials by fork lift trucks having a fork member with parallel spaced supporting prongs, said apparatus comprising: a base; load receiving platform means mounted on said base and having one or more supporting surface means thereon spaced vertically above the base and having a width less than the width of the space between the prongs of the fork lift truck; said load receiving platform means including a pair of vertical telescoping column means spaced longitudinally of said platform means and formed of a fixed lower tubular sleeve and a member telescoping the upper end of the fixed lower sleeve and secured to the under side of the vertically movable load supporting surface means of the platform means; spring means confined within the tubular sleeve of each of the column means and acting on said telescoping column means between the base and said movable load supporting surface means for biasing said load supporting surface means upwardly for movement away from the base and permitting the platform supporting surface means to move downwardly toward the base when a load is imposed upon said supporting surface means; lateral' stabilizing means on said base spaced laterally from said platform means; actuating means for moving said stabilizing means relative to said load receiving platform means into lateral load engaging position for stabilizing a load on said platform means against lateral movement, said actuating means being operable to move said stabilizing means to stabilizing position when a load is placed on said platform means and comprising pivot bars having their outer ends pivotally supported on the base and their inner ends operatively connected to the movable load supporting surface means of the platform means; and means connecting said lateral stabilizing means rigidly to said pivot bars for movement therewith to swing the upper ends of the lateral stabilizing means toward each other when the platform supporting surface means is moved downwardly by a load imposed thereon, whereby each of the lateral stabilizing means is moved inwardly on each side of the supporting surface of the platform means to engage the sides of a load supported on the platform means to stabilize the same against lateral movement or tipping; said spring means and said actuating means coacting to move said lateral stabilizing means out of stabilizing position when said load is removed from said platform means.

11. The apparatus of the character set forth in claim 10 wherein said stabilizing means comprises a pair of planar panel members, one on each side of said supporting platform means and swingable from a position in which their upper ends diverge outwardly toward a position in which their planar surfaces are substantially parallel, for engaging and laterally supporting a load of material stacked on said load supporting surface means of said platform means; and means connected with said load supporting platform means responsive to movement of the platform means by the load on the platform means for actuating said actuating means for moving said stabilizing means into load engaging and supporting position relative to the load receiving platform means when a load is placed on said platform means.

12. Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 10 wherein the pivot bars are operatively connected at their inner ends by a link with the movable supporting surface means of the platform means for swinging movement about their outer ends when a load is impressed upon the supporting surface means of the platform means to move the platform supporting surface means downwardly and so swing the lateral stabilizing means inwardly toward the upper supporting surface means of the platform means to support the load impressed upon the platform means against lateral movement.

13. Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 12 wherein the outer ends of the pivot bars are supported on rollers in rolling contact with the base for pivotal movement about the axes of the rollers for swingable movement of the pivot bars about said axes.

14. Apparatus for handling stacked loads of materials by fork lift trucks having a fork member with parallel spaced supporting prongs, said apparatus comprising: a base; load receiving platform means mounted on said base and having one or more supporting surface means thereon spaced vertically above the base and having a width less than the width of the space between the prongs of the fork lift truck; said load receiving platform means including a pair of vertical telescoping column means spaced longitudinally of said platform means and formed of a fixed lower tubular sleeve and a member telescoping the upper end of the fixed lower sleeve and secured to the under side of the vertically movable load supporting surface means of the platform means; spring means confined within the tubular sleeve of each of the column means and acting on said telescoping column means between the base and said movable load supporting surface means for biasing said load supporting surface means upwardly for movement away from the base and permitting the platform supporting surface means to move downwardly toward the base when a load is imposed upon said supporting surface means; lateral stabilizing means on said base spaced laterally from said platform means; and actuating means for moving said stabilizing means relative to said load receiving platform means into lateral load engaging position for stabilizing a load on said platform means against lateral movement, said actuating means being operable to move said stabilizing means to stabilizing position when a load is placed on said platform means and comprising bell crank means having divergent pivotally connected crank arms, one crank arm of each bell crank means having its outer end pivotally supported on the base and having one of the lateral stabilizing means connected rigidly thereto for supporting the same, the other crank arm of the bell crank means having its other end pivotally connected operatively with the movable supporting surface means of the platfonn means for causing swinging movement of the bell crank means about the pivot support at the outer end of said one crank arm of said crank means on the base to swing the stabilizing panel members connected therewith laterally inwardly toward the load supported on the supporting surface means of the load receiving platform means; said spring means and said bell crank coacting for moving said stabilizing means out of stabilizing position when said load is removed from said platform means. 7

15. Apparatus for handling stacked loads of material by fork lift trucks having a fork member with parallel spaced supporting prongs, said apparatus comprising: a base; load receiving platform means mounted on said base and having one or more supporting surface means thereon spaced vertically above the base and having a width less than the width of the space between the prongs of the fork lift truck; stabilizing means on said base spaced laterally from said platform means and comprising a pair of planar panel members one on each side of said supporting platform means and swingable from a position in which their upper ends diverge outwardly toward a position in which the planar surfaces are substantially parallel, for engaging and laterally supporting a load of material stacked on said load supporting surface means of said platform means; actuating means for moving said stabilizing means relative to said load receiving platform means into load engaging position for stabilizing a load on the platform means against lateral movement; means connected with said load supporting platform means responsive to movement of the platform means by the load on the platform means for actuating said actuating means for moving said stabilizing means into load engaging and supporting position relative to the load receiving platform means when a load is placed on said platform means; said actuating means being operable to move said stabilizing means to stabilizing position when said load is placed on said platform means; load supporting bracket means carried by said planar'panel members and extending inwardly of the planar surfaces of said panels toward the opposite panel at a height substantially equal to that of the supporting surface of said load receiving platform means when said panels are in position to stabilize said load against lateral movement; means on said load supporting brackets for supporting the outer edges of said load against further downward movement; means adjustably securing each of said supporting bracket means to its respective panel member for adjusting its height above the face; and means for moving said stabilizing means out of stabilizing position when said load is removed from said platform means.

16. The device of claim 15 including: slot means on one and bolt means on the other of said stabilizing means and said load supporting bracket means, said bolt means being receivable in said slot means whereby the height of said load supporting bracket means on said stabilizing means is adjustable. 

1. Apparatus for handling stacked loads of materials by fork lift trucks having a fork member with parallel spaced supporting prongs, said apparatus comprising: a base; load receiving platform means mounted on said base and having one or more supporting surface means thereon spaced vertically above the base and having a width less than the width of the space between the prongs of the fork lift truck; vertically extending telescoping column means spaced longitudinally of said platform means extending between said supporting surface means and said base; resilient means in each of said column means biasing said surface means away from said base and permitting said surface means to move downwardly toward said base when a load is imposed on said surface means; lateral stabilizing means swingably mounted on said base spaced laterally from said platform means; and actuating means for moving said stabilizing means relative to said load receiving platform means into load engaging position for engaging opposite sides of a load supported on said supporting surface means for stabilizing said load on said platform means against lateral movement, said actuating means being operatively connected with said movable supporting surface means, said lateral stabilizing means and said base and operable to move said stabilizing means to stabilizing position when a load is placed on said platform means said actuating means and said resilient means coacting for moving said stabilizing means out of stabilizing position when said load is removed from said platform means.
 2. Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein said pair of vertically extending columns spaced longitudinally of said platform means are each formed of a fixed lower tubular sleeve and a slidable upper tubular sleeve telescoping over the upper end of fixed lower sleeve and secured to the underside of the vertically movable supporting surface means of the platform means; and said resilient means comprises a spring confined within the tubular sleeves of each of the columns and acting between the base and movable load supporting surface means for moving said load supporting surface means upwardly away from the base and permitting the platform supporting surface means to move downwardly toward the base when a load is impressed upon said supporting surface means.
 3. Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein the actuating means for swinging said lateral stabilizing means toward the supporting sUrface means of the supporting platform means for engaging and supporting a load on said platform means against lateral movement thereon comprises: fluid pressure operated means operatively connected with said base and each of said lateral stabilizing means operable to swing said lateral stabilizing means on said base.
 4. Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 3 wherein the fluid pressure operated means is controlled by valve means actuated by downward movement of the supporting surface means of the platform means when a load is impressed upon the platform means.
 5. Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein the lateral stabilizing means comprise panel members adjustably secured at their lower edges to the base member and adjustable for varying the distance between the stabilizing panel members when the same are moved to stabilizing position.
 6. The device of claim 5 including: load supporting bracket means carried by said planar panel members and extending inwardly of the planar surfaces of said panels toward the opposite panel at a height substantially equal to the height of said load supporting surface of said load receiving platform means when said panels are in position to stabilize said load against lateral movement; said load supporting brackets having means for supporting the outer edges of said load against further downward movement.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein each of said load supporting bracket means is adjustably secured to its respective panel members for adjusting its height above said base.
 8. The device of claim 7 including: slot means on one and bolt means on the other of said stabilizing means and said load supporting bracket means, said bolt means being receivable in said slot means whereby the height of said load supporting bracket means on said stabilizing means is adjustable.
 9. The device of claim 1 wherein said lateral stabilizing means comprises a pair of planar panel members, one on each side of said platform means; and load supporting bracket means is carried by said planar panel members and extending inwardly of the planar surfaces of each of said panel members toward the opposite panel at a height substantially equal to the height of the supporting surface of said load receiving platform means when said panels are in position to stabilize said load against lateral movement; said load supporting brackets having means for supporting the outer edges of said load against further downward movement.
 10. Apparatus for handling stacked loads of materials by fork lift trucks having a fork member with parallel spaced supporting prongs, said apparatus comprising: a base; load receiving platform means mounted on said base and having one or more supporting surface means thereon spaced vertically above the base and having a width less than the width of the space between the prongs of the fork lift truck; said load receiving platform means including a pair of vertical telescoping column means spaced longitudinally of said platform means and formed of a fixed lower tubular sleeve and a member telescoping the upper end of the fixed lower sleeve and secured to the under side of the vertically movable load supporting surface means of the platform means; spring means confined within the tubular sleeve of each of the column means and acting on said telescoping column means between the base and said movable load supporting surface means for biasing said load supporting surface means upwardly for movement away from the base and permitting the platform supporting surface means to move downwardly toward the base when a load is imposed upon said supporting surface means; lateral stabilizing means on said base spaced laterally from said platform means; actuating means for moving said stabilizing means relative to said load receiving platform means into lateral load engaging position for stabilizing a load on said platform means against lateral movement, said actuating means being operable to move said stabilizing means To stabilizing position when a load is placed on said platform means and comprising pivot bars having their outer ends pivotally supported on the base and their inner ends operatively connected to the movable load supporting surface means of the platform means; and means connecting said lateral stabilizing means rigidly to said pivot bars for movement therewith to swing the upper ends of the lateral stabilizing means toward each other when the platform supporting surface means is moved downwardly by a load imposed thereon, whereby each of the lateral stabilizing means is moved inwardly on each side of the supporting surface of the platform means to engage the sides of a load supported on the platform means to stabilize the same against lateral movement or tipping; said spring means and said actuating means coacting to move said lateral stabilizing means out of stabilizing position when said load is removed from said platform means.
 11. The apparatus of the character set forth in claim 10 wherein said stabilizing means comprises a pair of planar panel members, one on each side of said supporting platform means and swingable from a position in which their upper ends diverge outwardly toward a position in which their planar surfaces are substantially parallel, for engaging and laterally supporting a load of material stacked on said load supporting surface means of said platform means; and means connected with said load supporting platform means responsive to movement of the platform means by the load on the platform means for actuating said actuating means for moving said stabilizing means into load engaging and supporting position relative to the load receiving platform means when a load is placed on said platform means.
 12. Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 10 wherein the pivot bars are operatively connected at their inner ends by a link with the movable supporting surface means of the platform means for swinging movement about their outer ends when a load is impressed upon the supporting surface means of the platform means to move the platform supporting surface means downwardly and so swing the lateral stabilizing means inwardly toward the upper supporting surface means of the platform means to support the load impressed upon the platform means against lateral movement.
 13. Apparatus of the character set forth in claim 12 wherein the outer ends of the pivot bars are supported on rollers in rolling contact with the base for pivotal movement about the axes of the rollers for swingable movement of the pivot bars about said axes.
 14. Apparatus for handling stacked loads of materials by fork lift trucks having a fork member with parallel spaced supporting prongs, said apparatus comprising: a base; load receiving platform means mounted on said base and having one or more supporting surface means thereon spaced vertically above the base and having a width less than the width of the space between the prongs of the fork lift truck; said load receiving platform means including a pair of vertical telescoping column means spaced longitudinally of said platform means and formed of a fixed lower tubular sleeve and a member telescoping the upper end of the fixed lower sleeve and secured to the under side of the vertically movable load supporting surface means of the platform means; spring means confined within the tubular sleeve of each of the column means and acting on said telescoping column means between the base and said movable load supporting surface means for biasing said load supporting surface means upwardly for movement away from the base and permitting the platform supporting surface means to move downwardly toward the base when a load is imposed upon said supporting surface means; lateral stabilizing means on said base spaced laterally from said platform means; and actuating means for moving said stabilizing means relative to said load receiving platform means into lateral load engaging position for stabilizing a load on said platform means against lateral movEment, said actuating means being operable to move said stabilizing means to stabilizing position when a load is placed on said platform means and comprising bell crank means having divergent pivotally connected crank arms, one crank arm of each bell crank means having its outer end pivotally supported on the base and having one of the lateral stabilizing means connected rigidly thereto for supporting the same, the other crank arm of the bell crank means having its other end pivotally connected operatively with the movable supporting surface means of the platform means for causing swinging movement of the bell crank means about the pivot support at the outer end of said one crank arm of said crank means on the base to swing the stabilizing panel members connected therewith laterally inwardly toward the load supported on the supporting surface means of the load receiving platform means; said spring means and said bell crank coacting for moving said stabilizing means out of stabilizing position when said load is removed from said platform means.
 15. Apparatus for handling stacked loads of material by fork lift trucks having a fork member with parallel spaced supporting prongs, said apparatus comprising: a base; load receiving platform means mounted on said base and having one or more supporting surface means thereon spaced vertically above the base and having a width less than the width of the space between the prongs of the fork lift truck; stabilizing means on said base spaced laterally from said platform means and comprising a pair of planar panel members one on each side of said supporting platform means and swingable from a position in which their upper ends diverge outwardly toward a position in which the planar surfaces are substantially parallel, for engaging and laterally supporting a load of material stacked on said load supporting surface means of said platform means; actuating means for moving said stabilizing means relative to said load receiving platform means into load engaging position for stabilizing a load on the platform means against lateral movement; means connected with said load supporting platform means responsive to movement of the platform means by the load on the platform means for actuating said actuating means for moving said stabilizing means into load engaging and supporting position relative to the load receiving platform means when a load is placed on said platform means; said actuating means being operable to move said stabilizing means to stabilizing position when said load is placed on said platform means; load supporting bracket means carried by said planar panel members and extending inwardly of the planar surfaces of said panels toward the opposite panel at a height substantially equal to that of the supporting surface of said load receiving platform means when said panels are in position to stabilize said load against lateral movement; means on said load supporting brackets for supporting the outer edges of said load against further downward movement; means adjustably securing each of said supporting bracket means to its respective panel member for adjusting its height above the face; and means for moving said stabilizing means out of stabilizing position when said load is removed from said platform means.
 16. The device of claim 15 including: slot means on one and bolt means on the other of said stabilizing means and said load supporting bracket means, said bolt means being receivable in said slot means whereby the height of said load supporting bracket means on said stabilizing means is adjustable. 